The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
yesterday more than doubled its Sudan floods appeal to about US$ 4.6 million as
flood waters in the country rose above critical levels.
The early arrival of heavy rains has caused rivers in Sudan's north and east
to burst their banks, inundating villages, towns and farm land, the Geneva-based
relief agency said in a statement.
According to the Sudanese Red Crescent, nearly 100 people have been killed by
the floods and more than 300,000 people in 16 of the country's 26 states have
been affected. Almost 60,000 houses have been damaged or destroyed.
John English, the head of the Federation's field assessment and coordination
team in Sudan, said that the combination of the unexpected timing and the
severity of the rain have caught many communities unprepared.
"Flooding on this scale hasn't been seen for twenty years. Whole communities
have been devastated ... farms, livestock, roads, bridges, latrines, hospitals
and schools have been damaged or swept away."
Niels Scott, the Federation's operations coordinator for Africa, said the
floods have also damaged Sudan's fragile water and sanitation systems, leaving
many without access to clean water.
"This is increasing the incidence of water-borne diseases such as acute
watery diarrhoea," Scott said.
According to the statement, the federation's revised appeal aims to assist
140,000 Sudanese people for the next six months through the provision of water
and sanitation assistance, basic health care as well as shelter and relief
items.